Comfort

 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 (NLT)

 

Hopefully praise comes naturally to us. We might praise a child for eating vegetables. We could praise a student for passing their exams. We might praise an employee for a successful project.

 

All praise is due to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though we deserve His wrath, He’s merciful to us and comforts us who mourn at our sinfulness. In all our troubles He comforts us, not just for our sakes or for His glory’s sake, but so that we can comfort others.

 

If we were comforted by God and refused to comfort others, we’d be miserly with the goodness of God. That would be horrible and selfish. We should comfort others with the comfort we have received.

 

If we have been hurt, abused, sinned against for example, and God has comforted us despite the pain, we should comfort others. We’re not to idolise comfort as God’s people, we’re to deny ourselves and take up our crosses, and follow Jesus- but we can and should comfort ourselves and others with the truths of our gracious God.

 

‘Merciful Father God, we praise You for the comfort You have given us. Please help us to comfort others and point them to You as the Source of all comfort. In the name of Christ we pray, amen’.

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